Senator Laura Bush? President Says Never

By RICHARD W. STEVENSON

Published: January 20, 2006

Laura Bush has no intention of becoming Hillary Rodham Clinton. So says President Bush, who on Thursday ruled out any possibility that his wife might follow her predecessor as first lady into elective office.

Asked by a woman in the audience at an appearance here ''when we'll see our lovely first lady run for the Senate,'' Mr. Bush replied, ''Never.''

Like a one-woman Draft Laura committee, the questioner pressed on. ''Come on,'' she said to Mr. Bush, provoking applause and laughter. ''Ask her, will you?''

Mr. Bush replied: ''No, I'm not going to ask. Never.''

Mr. Bush's hard line on the issue may have been in part political. Texas, the state from which Mrs. Bush might be expected to run, already has two Republican senators.

His objections might also have been beside the point. Mrs. Bush has made clear that she tolerates politics only because it happens to be her husband's profession, though judging by the applause Mr. Bush usually gets by just mentioning her name in front of friendly crowds, she has a base out there.

Mr. Bush sang his wife's praises on Thursday, noting that she had just returned from Africa, that she was involved in advocating literacy programs and that he had delegated to her the first decision he had to make after winning the presidency: the design of the rug in the Oval Office.

Photo: President Bush gave a speech yesterday in Sterling, Va. A member of the audience asked when his wife, Laura, would run for the Senate. (Photo by Shawn Thew/European Pressphoto Agency)